Giving Thanks, Giving Back

In my family, it is our tradition every year to go around the Thanksgiving table and have each person name something for which they are grateful. I made my way around the office today for an informal survey of Mann’s employees along the same lines: “Why are you glad to work here?”

A group of Mann’s employees volunteering as tour guides at Monterey County Farm Day

My co-workers’ responses all flowed in a similar vein. The people here are amazing. The company cares about us. I have better work/life balance here than any other place I’ve worked. Everyone here is down-to-earth. It’s a family-owned business and I feel like I’m part of it. People thank each other and acknowledge a job well done.

There’s no doubt that the corporate culture here at Mann’s is pretty special. Our employees feel it. Our customers feel it. And our community feels it. Not only does our generous, family-like vibe exist internally – we cast it out into the world.

Every year, Mann’s supports over 90 organizations focused primarily on kids, families and health. From providing warm-bodied volunteers and helping plan fundraisers to writing checks and sitting on boards, our company’s involvement in the community is extensive. In today’s post I wanted to highlight a few of the organizations and events we supported in just the last month alone.

The Susan G. Komen Culinary Showdown took place on October 22 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel. Top fundraisers from Los Angeles County participated in a celebrity chef school, then were broken into five teams to compete onstage in an Iron Chef-style competition. Food Network’s Elizabeth Faulkner and Tyler Florence, Top Chef alums Antonia Lofaso and Michael Voltaggio, and Chef Ben Ford led their groups through four rounds of mystery ingredients, including Mann’s Tenderbite® Green Beans. Susan G. Komen LA County was founded 20 years ago, and helps un- and under-insured Angelenos with diagnostic, support and navigation services pertaining to breast cancer.

On November 10, the Capital Food Fight benefitting DC Central Kitchen took over the Ronald Reagan Building on Capitol Hill. The event drew over 1,300 attendees, had 75 DC-area restaurant stations, and 4 local top chefs competing to outdo each other cooking with mystery ingredients, once again including Tenderbite Beans. Now in its 13th year, Capitol Food Fight was the brainchild of celebrity chef Jose Andres and 100% of event proceeds benefit DC Central Kitchen, an organization that provides nutritious meals for 80 nearby nonprofit partners and 15 District schools, and equips unemployed men and women to begin culinary careers. Mann’s, joining with Keany Produce, was one of the sponsors of the Food Fight.

Mann Packing is currently supporting several programs for the Boys & Girls Club of Monterey County: its Adopt-A-Family program for the holiday season, supporting the Club to serve 1,100 youth and family members a Thanksgiving meal, and helping to provide 100 families with a food box for the school holiday break. These holiday contributions come after a $10,000 donation from Mann’s during the BGCMC’s Great Futures Telethon and annual $15,000 pledge that went to the Club’s Healthy Lifestyles initiative. The mission of the BGCMC is to inspire and empower the youth of Monterey County to realize their full potential to become responsible, healthy, productive and successful citizens.